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Author
Topic: Shocking ignorance (Read 4728 times)

So I work at a hospital and the other day one of the substance abuse counselors, who has to have at least a bachelor's degree, starts talking about how she needs to move to New Mexico because that is where all the jobs are. I told her I had not heard about jobs in New Mexico and she said that everyone was talking about how jobs are going to New Mexico. I asked if she meant U.S. jobs are going to Mexico and she said yes. Then, completely serious, she asks me what the difference is between Mexico and New Mexico. I explain that Mexico is another country and New Mexico is a state. Then she asks where Mexico is located and wants to know if Cancun is in Mexico or New Mexico. The cherry on this little cake of geographic obliviousness was a different coworker who chimes in "Do we still have 50 states or have they added some?"

I took the opportunity in a Planning Counsil sub-committee that I was disabled for AIDS, not stupidity. Is there funding for care of those whose minds have been touched by the Sun god? Have the best dayMichael

I too have experienced such blissfull ignorance. Meeting people from Detroit while in Windsor, Ontario visiting old room mates from University, and these guys did not know that a) Where Ontario was, b) where Canada was and c) that Windsor was actually a part of a larger entity called Canada; they thought it was just a city on to itself. Another time, during a major dry heat spell (45 degrees C) in July I had the fortunate chance to see license plates from the US (sorry, can't remember where) and the car actually had a family set of downhill skis on the roof rack.

I know not everyone is geographically inclined; I'd sure fail tests if pressed but downhill skiing in July?!?!? Come on people, what were you thinking?!?!?!

I don't think people should necessarily know every states capitols, especially coming from NY, we think New York- California and some tornado land between; but seriously, the states? I don't believe it how bad that is.

The sad thing is that this person is a Substance Abuse Counselor , and presumablly gives people advise on how to get their lives in order....I dont imagine any of her clients take her too seriously after catching her in a moronic lapse like the one mentioned. Does she know the difference between Crystal Lite and Crystal Meth ? or the similarities between Oxycontin and Oxy Clean ? In her mind is there a difference between Free Basing and Free Balling?? You could really blow her mind and ask her which is better: Panama Red, Mexican Brown, China White, or Alabama Black Snake....Thank God she's not a sex ed. counselor....

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"Fortunately, I Keep My T Cells Numbered For Just Such An Emergency" -Either Foghorn Leghorn or Johnny Cash

*holding his sides as the chair goes flailing across the room and he hits the floor in thunderous laughter*

Molten(Who believes Intelligence to be a dying trait)

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"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful nor conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, adaptation in A Walk To Remember

Tell her that there is an added reason why she should go South to Mexico. The climate is changing and it will be the only habitable place to live because the rest of the northern hemisphere will become covered with ice. The Rio Grande will freeze and she could walk on the ice. Tell here also that Nostradamus predicted that a big earthquake will crack the world's crust and all the oil of Iran and Iraq will seep down below to the middle of the earth and be lost. (That is why Iran wants to develop nuclear power). Then this lost petroleum will fuel the molten lava and explode through volcanoes. The dust will cover the sky and we will be all extinct like the dinasours. But there are UFOs hiding in temples of Aztec temples of Mexico ready to ship the very best humans out of planet earth when this disaster strikes. (On the other side of the globe the UFOs are hidden in the pyramids of Egypt and in Stonehenge).

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... when I was young, I never needed anyone, making love was just for fun, those days are gone ... Eric Carmen (Raspberries)

Tell her that there is an added reason why she should go South to Mexico. The climate is changing and it will be the only habitable place to live because the rest of the northern hemisphere will become covered with ice. The Rio Grande will freeze and she could walk on the ice. Tell here also that Nostradamus predicted that a big earthquake will crack the world's crust and all the oil of Iran and Iraq will seep down below to the middle of the earth and be lost. (That is why Iran wants to develop nuclear power). Then this lost petroleum will fuel the molten lava and explode through volcanoes.

Having lived in New Mexico for ten years; one of my favorite things was the section at the back of New Mexico Magazine that was dedicated to this exact thing. It is called, "One of Our Fifty Is Missing". Here is a link to that section, with a few more for your enjoyment. GSO, I recommend you send them this story, and there is a link right on this page to send it in.

I was laughing so hard yesterday, I almost peed my pants. Today, I am still laughing so hard, I almost peed my pants. I lived in Waikiki for 5 years, an American tourist asked me if it was OK to drink the water in that country. I said yes, you can drink the water but try and avoid drinking water with the ice cubes. Have the best dayMichael

But now some broad wants to come here to work! Is she nuts!?! I'll fix her. I'll sew a bag of Mexican brown into her bra and send her to Española. She won't last an hour.

Seriously, though. It is just sad. I know where the 50 states are, pretty much what they are known for and why or why not I would deign to visit there.

But, on the other hand, it does keep out the riff-raff. We just tell the undesirables they must produce their visas when they start talking about moving here.

Then there are those who move here and decide they want to change everything to be like it was in the places they left (most notably California, New York and Texas).

Here are a few pointers for those who come here and want to change everything:

NO - we don't sell soft pretzels here. We sell tamales and, yes, that was the mild one, you wimp.

NO - we don't have sushi bars on every corner. There are a few around, but remember, this is a landlocked state. Visit Shiprock and try the mutton stew. It really is quite tasty and a whole lot safer.

YES - this is an officially bi-lingual state. That is why your voter registration card, all of the ballots, legal documents and laws are written in both English and Spanish. Get over it, pendejo.

YES - our capitol building is round. It is shaped like a Native American kiva. You want a dome, go to Denver.

YES - they did explode the first atomic bomb here - in July 1945 at White Sands near Alamogordo. We didn't ask them to do it, they just did it. The last time I visited Trinity Site, as the spot is called, (make of that what you will) there was a van load of Japanese tourists also visiting the site. I didn't know whether to cry, apologize or hide.

YES - the Rio Grande runs through the center of the state. Those of you who laugh when you see it will be asked to cross it - barefoot. We promise not to let you sink completely under the quick sand.

NO - El Paso isn't part of New Mexico. It is part of the bushlands of Texas. They can keep it. It's ugly.

YES - Santa Fe has been a continuously occupied capital for nerarly 400 years. Albuquerque is right now celebrating its tricentennial. They started settling in the Rio Grande valleny in 1540. Well, they called it settling, the locals called it stealing. They already had their cities, farms and lifestyles all settled. They really didn't need any help. Of course, nobody asked them.

NO - New Mexico Hispanics are not Mexicans. Say that to their faces and you're in for a fight. They have been here for hundreds of years, occupying land grants given them by the king of Spain when Mexico was still a province of that European fiefdom and, under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, still recognized to this day.

YES - we have many different Native American tribes in this state. The Sky City of Acoma, famous for its pottery, is here. So is about a generous third of the Navajo Nation, which has a population of 250,000 and growing - rapidly. We also have Apaches, Utes and others.

NO - they don't wear war paint or live in teepees. Teepees were used by plains Indians. The folks here lived in cities made of either adobe or stone. Some lived in single dwellings called hogans (emphasis on the second syllable.)

NO - don't walk up to them, raise your right hand and say "how." They speak English, for the most part. (Some of the veeery old elders still don't, but that's really rare.)

YES - some foreigners have managed to come to the realization that New Mexico is here - you know, the people from "elsewhere." Georgia O'Keefe is one such person. Odd lady, but a good painter.

YES - foreign species have been brought here to be preserved because in their homelands they were being wiped out. Oryx, Iranian sheep, Kudu, among others. Of course, now we don't know what to do with them. They have become so comfortable here they are overpopulating and there are organized hunts to thin the herds and keep them from crowding out the native species, much as we do with the wild horses and burros. (Burro is tasty, so is horse and oryx. Just an FYI).

NO NO NO! - saguarro cactus don't live in New Mexico. They live in Arizona. New Mexico is a high desert (much of the state is at least a mile above sea level.) Arizona is about half high and half low desert, which explains the politics there.

YES - we love the outdoors here. We just don't do it in the middle of the day during the summer. We leave that to the tourists who arrive pale and ashen and leave pink and very, very sore.

YES - we put green chile in or on everything. Even McDonald's offers it on their burgers. Without chile, there is no life.

You guys are funny so why is Windsor Castle in England? Was that a gift to the people of England? My friend sent me a fill in map of the US and happy to say I know where every state belongs. by as close to twenty miles. Actually in trivia pursuit geography was my strong point.

Mark everyone I know from NM says the food is bitchin'- now I am hungry. I love good Mexican food which is sorely lacking in NY. We have an old lady here in Queens who makes a great tamales. I prefer the Mexican ones over the Columbian ones.

Johny whose been to both Canada and Windsor Castle, but just not at the same time.

« Last Edit: June 24, 2006, 08:56:27 AM by alisenjafi »

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"You shut your mouthhow can you sayI go about things the wrong wayI am human and I need to be lovedjust like everybody else does"The Smiths